When put to use efficiently, solar energy can do a lot for either a home or business. You can get potentially significant tax breaks, serious reductions in your utility bills and sleep better at night knowing you’re inflicting less harm on the environment. Keep reading to learn more about solar power and how to put it to work for you.
Do your research before you buy or install anything. It is important that you know what you’re allowed to have in place, what is the best choice for efficiency and what sort of a budget you’re working with. Once you have those answers in hand, you’ll be able to go forward with your project.
Keep the trees around your solar energy panels trimmed. Shade from trees can limit the sun’s rays that are hitting your panels, thereby causing your panels to work less effectively. In order to avoid this problem, make sure to trim back leaves and branches regularly. This is easy to do, and it is cost effective too.
Get quotes from several contractors before signing any solar energy installation company. Just as with any other construction product, it pays to shop around before you commit to a particular company. Check out their reviews online and their standing with the Better Business Bureau. A little research ahead of time can save you a big headache later.
Leasing a solar system is an option if up-front costs are prohibitive. In the long run, buying a solar energy system is always the better option, however leasing can still result in lower bills overall. Leasing a system will let you take advantage of the energy savings right away, however be aware that you can be stuck with your contract for up to 10 years.
Humans have taken advantage of the sun’s heat for thousands of years. A lot of energy can be saved by drying your clothes outdoors in sunny weather. This cuts down a lot on the energy used to dry your clothing in an electric or gas clothes dryer, and linens dried outside smell great.
Take the time to compare different types of solar panels before you invest in a green energy system. There are different technologies and brands to compare and it is true that the most expensive panels are often the most efficient ones. Talk with vendors and professionals to learn more about solar panels.
Keeping your solar panels clean is essential to getting the most out of them. Dirty panels will not absorb the solar rays as well as clean panels will. It seems to be common sense to keep them clean, but many people assume that the rain will clean them. But they still need a thorough cleaning to keep them in optimum condition.
Don’t underestimate the effect that shade can have on a solar panel’s output. One tree branch can produce enough shade to reduce the amount of solar energy produced by almost 80 percent and that’s without leaves. Take the time to properly situate any solar panels you install to maximize their efficiency.
Solar water heaters have been around for hundreds of years. For over 50 years people have been using them to heat everything inside and outside the home. Over the years, these solar water heating systems have become much more efficient. If you are located in sunny areas of the country, you should look into buying a solar water system.
Solar energy offers many benefits, no matter who you are or where you live. Consider how you can benefit as well as how the reduced pollution can help the environment. Solar energy may not be the answer to all our energy problems, but it certainly is a very good start!
